When you have a hard day, do you come home and take solace in a pint of ice cream? Is your most useful stress-relief tool a box of doughnuts? If so, then you're prone to emotional eating — and chances are your children have learned the habit from you. As the name implies, emotional eating is the use of food to satisfy cravings other than hunger. We may turn to food to alleviate sadness, loneliness, boredom, anger, or anxiety — and we don't typically turn to apples and asparagus.

The first step in controlling emotional eating is to become aware of it. The next time you find yourself poking around in the refrigerator between meals, ask yourself if you're actually hungry or whether you're trying to fill something other than your belly. Pose the same question to your kids whenever you see them heading for the cookie jar.

The second step is to find a way to meet the emotional need that doesn't involve food. Talk to your kids about their problems, and instead of just making them feel better with food, help them learn healthy coping mechanisms. Nutrition expert Joy Bauer, R.D., recommends making a list of strategies your children can use to deal with tough emotions, like punching a pillow if they're upset, writing down ten good things about themselves if they're feeling depressed, or jumping rope to get out aggression or alleviate boredom. Brainstorm more ideas with your kids, and then put them into action!